NEIL LENNON feels directors in Scotland have given managers more of a chance to get things right this season rather than just giving them the boot.

CELTIC boss Neil Lennon reckons he is operating in the knee jerk capital of the footballing world.

Reputations can be made or mangled in the blink of an eye but Lennon has seen a change in boardroom attitudes in Scotland this season and believes more directors are giving managers a chance to get it right.

His comments, coming in the wake of a top-flight sacking, might raise eyebrows in Dundee and Lennon is acutely aware that Barry Smith lost his job this week.

He was the first to be bulleted in the SPL this season, although Peter Houston parted company with neighbours Dundee United after deciding not to renew his contract at the end of the campaign.

Lennon has sympathy for Smith, who was given just three weeks’ notice to prepare his team for the SPL after spending his budget on players he felt could challenge for the First Division.

But the Irishman believes there has been less of an inclination to fire managers.

He said: “I think it’s the first sacking of the season and we are in late February. There has been stability in Scotland which is quite pleasing really.

“I think players get to know a manager and his methods. A lot of managers are punching above their weight. Look what Terry Butcher has been doing with a pretty limited budget.

“St Mirren’s position belies the quality they have but that can change around very quickly and they are obviously in a cup final.

“Danny Lennon has improved St Mirren and although Dundee United have had a change, Peter did a great job there.

“Hibs have been a big improvement, and John McGlynn has had it tough at Hearts. I don’t want to go through the whole league but Derek Adams has done brilliantly at Ross County.

“It’s a lesson – unless you’re a mega-rich club and can afford to chop and change managers whenever you like. Take what Newcastle have done with Alan Pardew. They’ve looked at Wenger and Ferguson and said we like what we have here and we’re going to give the manager time to do what he wants to do.

“We get judged in the job in five minutes. It’s the knee-jerk capital of football up here.

“Sometimes I’ve brought a player in and after 45 minutes he’s signed off.

“The opinion’s made – it’s set in stone. He could be brilliant for the next 100 games but will always be remembered for his debut.”

Dundee will come to Parkhead tomorrow lunchtime for their first match without Smith and Lennon admits he can’t understand the timing of their decision to ditch the manager.

He added: “I don’t know the ins and outs but from the outside it looks very harsh. The timing seems a bit strange. They seem to be cast adrift at the minute. It is going to take a monumental effort to turn things around and I hope it does not turn round at our expense on Sunday.

“Barry had his hands tied at the start of the season because he was not sure which division he would be playing in. It has been a struggle for them but then it was always going to be.

“Despite what you think, it is a big step up from the First Division to the Premier League. I know Ross County have done well since coming up but they have had a great structure in place there for quite a while.

“But I wouldn’t think it will damage Barry’s career. Most people up here recognise the circumstances.”

Lennon, who reiterated that the first half of the 1-1 draw against St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park on Tuesday was Celtic’s best performance in his time as manager, said: “Everyone was doom and gloom at the start but it has been a fantastic season for us.

“We have proved all the doom-mongers wrong and there is a lot of negativity in this country, a lot of it. It is overwhelming sometimes.

“Why would it be a worry for me when we are 19 points clear?

“There is nothing I can do about that (fans stopping coming). Do you want me to stop winning and let the gap close a little bit and make it more exciting?

“Bayern Munich are 15 points clear in their league, Man United are 12 points clear in their league so why is it just exclusive to us?

“Gates are down all over Europe, there is a recession on, people are feeling the pinch.“

Lennon will rotate his squad for the visit of the bottom club, with at least three regulars missing through injury. Mickael Lustig is expected to be out for two or three weeks with severe bruising to a leg injury, while Charlie Mulgrew is nursing a slight leg strain. But the main concern remains over skipper Scott Brown who may need surgery on an abductor problem that would put him out for up to six weeks.

Lennon said: “We are waiting for Scott Brown’s specialist letting us know if he needs surgery on the abductor. He is on holiday but we are expecting the results back on Monday or Tuesday.

“It depends on the extent of the injury. I’m speculating he might need surgery but we’ll see what the surgeon says. An operation like that normally means four to six weeks out.”

Joe Ledley has worn the captain’s armband in the last two matches but the manager believes there is merit in rotating the honour.

Lennon, who has previously used Charlie Mulgrew and Kelvin Wilson this season, added: “Why have a permanent vice-captain? I don’t see the point in that. It is good to give other players some responsibility sometimes.”

Anthony Stokes is likely to start up front and there could be a place for fit-again Georgios Samaras. Celtic fans might also get another look at Australian Tom Rogic, who had such an impressive debut against Inverness. Lennon said: “Tom played very well at Inverness. We like him and think he’s a good player. You will be seeing a lot more of him.

“He’s got a chance of starting on Sunday. We will change it from the other night – three or four new faces possibly. Not too many as we want to win the game and I don’t want to be disrespectful towards Dundee.

“We’ve got a good squad here and people are itching to play. I’m mindful of Motherwell and St Mirren coming up next week too. Anthony Stokes will be involved.

“I don’t know what team Dundee will have out. If it’s Ray Farningham in charge, the players know him so there aren’t going to be big changes.

“We want to win the game and win it well. The game’s live on TV and I want the players to show we are on good form at the minute.”